The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1887-06-13
FAIRGROUNDS OF THE PEOPLE.
Some of the Scenes to be Witnessed In
the Parks Alter Dark

Some of the Scenes to be Witnessed In
the Parks After Dark.
NEW YoRK, June ll.-One very foggy
night last week, as stepped out of the Hoffi
man House, was approached by benevo
lent looking old gentleman who stoppes
me.
pardon me-" he said, "but have been
puzzled to know what those lights up thers
are supported by. Can you tell mep
Following the direction Of his finger l
saw that he referred to the electric light ID
Madison square. The fog entirely hid thu
supporting pole and made it appear al
though the lights were floating in the air.
had hardly finished my explanation TO thu
old gentleman when the fog lifted and tht
whole of the square was revealed, with ia
dark foliage and the patches of light on thu
two walks. IL was a beautiful scene and
my country friend let sigh of pleasure es
cape him. | left him and crossed overts
the little park. Although the night up II
this time had been very damp, the bencha
were nearly all occupied. The occupant
were people Of all ages and nationalities.
On one bench sat two homeless tramp
vainly endeayoring TO appear awake, so a
to deceive the watchful eye of the police
man. A short distance away, on benci
withdrawn into the shadow Of large mapH
tree, sat two lowly lovers with their armi
around each others waists. They wer
silently gazing at the beautiful scenes before
them. A little further on were two neigh
borly German mothers with their babe,
asleep in their arms. They had come ovei
from the crowded tenement district on the
east side to get breath of fresh air JUS
then two fat little bow-legged men, with
pipes in their mouths, approached. They
were the husbands of the two Germar
women. To them, as well as TO the others
this little patch of green in the desert Of
stone around them was great pleasure
ground, whose benefits were not to be hkelI
considered Toward the Twenty-third
street end of the square the benches were
more thickly crowded together, and thu
younger and noisier persons occupied them
Here boys and girls were playing games on
the tar walks The merry shouts of fresl
young voices resounded through the air and
amused the older people, who were watch
ing their frolics
There is not city in The country where
similar scene could be observed. In the
centre of one of the most busy thorough.
fares in the city, surrounded on all sides by
immense buildings devoted TO business and
large hotels, this little park is nevertheless
as much shut out from all the noise and
clangor of busy life as though it had been
| located ND in Harlem Exactly similar to
| il Is Union Square and, of the two. the lat
ter il more frequented by the poorer people.
| II IA in a more democratic neighborhood
and further away from the freezing infiu-
ence of the aristocratic clubs and hotels.
To the working people who live in the vi
cinity, or near enough 10 be able TO walk tc
them. these parks are more beneficial and
source of greater delight than the
| great Central Park. The latter is hedged in
| by 80 many cast-iron rules, and is controlled
| by so many dangerous and Safeguarding
policemen that the pleasure of going there
Is frequently marred by the sight OF soms
! exasperating injustice. Besides, the poor
man who lives In the neighborhood OF Union
Square cannot always afford to pay l0c. car
fare 30 20 TO Central Park for few hours.
But wha ever may be said in favor OF Gen.
trail Park in the daytime, at night, at least,
there Is no comparison, for 1t is legally
closed at o'clock, whereas the squares are
always open.
The big electric lights which are mounted
on the top of the lofty poles which stand in
the centre Of each of the squares are dis
tinguishing marks of the city. They can
be seen from any part OF the harbor on the
| North or East River, towering far above the
city. Union square Is frequently used e. 4
central point from which 10 review parades
aud as am open air meeting place. Madison
square Is more frequently used as review
ing place for military parades.
CHARLES J. RosEBAuLT.